World's 10 Best Holiday Markets
- Emily Wasserman
- Dec 3, 2016
- 4 min read
In the weeks leading up Christmas, holiday markets open across Europe and North America as part of an annual tradition. Crowds gather to watch Christmas carolers, lantern processions, and tree lightings; otherwise, they're there to browse stands of handmade gifts, toys, and decorations. The markets are the perfect place to warm up with a glass of mulled wine or satisfy your sweet tooth with a Christmas treat. Whether you’re taking in Strasbourg’s sparkling Christmas tree, or sampling gingerbread at the Tallinn Christmas market, you can't help but feel the spirit of the season at our favorite holiday markets around the world.
CHRISTKINDLESMARKT
Where: Nuremberg, Germany
The Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremburg is arguably the most popular Christmas market in all of Europe. The market opens the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent, when crowds gather to watch the Christkind (German for "Christ-child") open the festivities. Shimmering with colorful Christmas light, more than 180 wooden stands sell handcrafted Christmas ornaments, toys, games, and holiday treats. Visitors can (and should) enjoy cups of mulled wine and rum punch, or try traditional Nüremberg bratwurst and gingerbread. End the night with a carriage ride around Old Town, and take in the Christmas greens and decorations.
CHRISTKINDLESMARIK
Where: Strasbourg, France
Known as the “Capital of Christmas," Strasbourg is home to Christkindlesmarik, France’s oldest and best holiday market. Christkindelsmarik comprises twelve markets that are organized by product. Visitors can sample bretzels, pain d’épices, and hot spiced wine at the Alsatian food stands at Place des Meuniers, or stop by the Place de la Gare market to browse local produce and crafts. Place Kléber holds the piece de resistance: a giant Christmas tree with shimmering ornaments and lights.
TIVOLI GARDENS' CHRISTMAS MARKET
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is known for amusement park rides and restaurants, but it's also home to a vibrant Christmas market. Every year in November, the park is decked with bright lights and decorations, and transformed into a Christmas village. Fifty different stalls line the park’s pathways, offering traditional Christmas products and entertainment. Guests can visit Father Christmas in his den, purchase Scandinavian knitwear and traditional Christmas tree decorations, and sample Danish holiday treats like aebleskive (a pan-baked doughnut) and glögg (spiced wine with raisins and almonds).
FIRA DE SANTA LLUCIA
Where: Barcelona, Spain
It's easy to deck the halls in Barcelona at the Fira de Santa Llúcia. The market offers more than 280 stands selling artisanal Christmas wares and decorations. Stands are divided into four sections: Nativities and figures, greenery and plants, crafts, and simbombes (traditional instruments used for caroling). Products include handmade clothing and jewelry, natural Christmas trees, and handcrafted Christmas decorations. Visitors can take a break from holiday shopping to listen to choir music or watch Catalan dance performances.
TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET
Where: Toronto, Canada
The Toronto Christmas Market combines Old World charm with modern-day holiday attractions. Hosted in the city’s Distillery Historic District, the market features festive lighting and décor plus musical performances from carolers and Bavarian brass bands. The market’s beer gardens and hospitality lounges are especially popular, as guests can warm up with beer, mulled wine, or hot rum drinks. Visitors can also browse through local, handcrafted products and check out the market’s giant Christmas tree. Those with a competitive spirit can take part in the World Caroling Challenge, a group performance of some of the most well known Christmas tunes.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Where: Vienna, Austria
Visitors will feel like they’ve stepped into a fairy tale at Vienna's Christmas markets. The city transforms its most popular squares into colorful Christmas villages, where guests can shop, eat, and explore to their heart’s content. Rathausplatz offers more than 150 stands with Christmas decorations, sweets, and hot brandied punch. The Old Viennese Christmas Market on Freyung features handmade crafts, cribs, and ceramics. Visitors can enjoy choral performances or ride the Christkindl Express, a train through the city’s winter wonderlands.
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Every year around Thanksgiving, LOVE Park in Philadelphia’s Center City transforms into a bustling Christmas Village. Modeled after traditional German Christmas markets, Christmas Village features more than 60 wooden booths with international crafts, gifts, and traditional European food and drink. Visitors can enjoy popular holiday treats like gingerbread, waffles, and crepes, and sip on mulled wine and hot chocolate. The market also includes live glassblowing demonstrations, performances by local artists, and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Where: Manchester, England
Featuring a melting pot of Christmas traditions, the Manchester Christmas Markets are divided into nine sites with a total of more than 300 stalls featuring a wide variety of local and European products. Vendors offer everything from handcrafted leather bags to specialty jams, chutneys, and liqueurs. Visitors can also enjoy delicacies from different countries, including Hungarian goulash, Spanish paella, and Dutch mini-pancakes; to keep warm, there are cups of glüwein, Spanish beer, and French-style hot chocolate.
TALLINN CHRISTMAS MARKET
Where: Tallinn, Estonia
Enter a true winter wonderland at the Tallinn Christmas Market. Set in Tallinn’s picturesque Town Hall Square, the market features illuminated snow sculptures, a large Christmas tree, and glittering Christmas decorations and lights. Small chalets throughout the market sell handcrafted products, and local caterers offer authentic Estonian cuisine. Visitors can sample everything from blood pudding with sour cabbage to gingerbread. The market also hosts several different holiday-themed contests, including one for gingerbread making and Christmas tree decorating.
CHRISTKINDLMARKET
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Inspired by Nüremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket offers traditional German products and authentic holiday spirit. The market has crafts from local and international vendors, and visitors can sample a variety of German holiday treats including baked apples, stollen, roasted nuts, potato pancakes, and schnitzel. Popular events include a traditional Christmas lantern procession, choral and brass band performances, and a tree-lighting parade.
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